The Washington critic., 1887-04-01
WASHINGTON, APRIL, /, 1887.
SECRETARY FAIRcHILD.

lulnIy INC ehslCSt way 10 ulspOsC VI u
somewhat embarrassing appointment
1t is true that In the minds Of many
PEOPLE the Cabinet IA associated with
men who have achieved national dis
1inction-thc political heavy. weights
Of the day and is supposed to repre-.
sent, in at least u majority Of its seven
portfolios the best craftsmanship of
the party in power, as It did in the
times Of Chase, Fesstnlen, DiN, Robert
d. Walker aud Levi Woodbury..
But times have considerably changed
In the last few years and the change Is
not necessarily for the worse. 1t Is the
result rather of Il revolution OF circum-
stances, of new conditions, of multi.
rled responsibilities. It Is more than
ever before essential that tho advisers
Of the Prcsilcn, be men familiar with
practical affairs as well AS great pnliti-
cal economists great diplomatis's,
rrea, constitutional lawyers; and as NJ.
Cleveland looks upon public Office Us II
public trust, to he administered like
other business on business principles, 1t
is but natural that he should give pre-.
oedence to the useGul rather than the
ornate and subordinate political consii-
erations TO the public interests, in the
composition of his cabinet.
lie has doubtless met with consider
able difficulty in his search for Sec.
retary who should be acceptable in all
respects to the politicians and their va.
Iious geographical divisions; add
weight and dignity TO the Executive
household; answer all the requirements
Of the position and at the same time
thoroughly concur with himself as to
the policy of the Administration. Not
succeeding in finding such pheuome
nal combination Of statesman and tinan.
cier, Mr.. Cleveland finally decided to
appoint gentleman who Is at least an
accomplished fnancier If not an Illus.
trious statesman, and unquestionably
his own fast friend.
As we say at the outset, the choice is
good one. Ii is, besides, a high COM
pliment 10 Secretary Manning, mas.
much as Mr. Fairchild and Mr.. May.
nard are the two men of all others
whose participation in the management
of the Treasury he made n condition of
his acceptance of the Secretaryship in
ile first place.
And what better man has been
named? Mr. Fajrchi.d has demon
eyr tn1 la. al. al
and has practically filed the place to
which he is now formally appointe |
almost from the beginning of the Ad-
ministration. He has held responsible
trusts before. Even In point of states
manship, as the term is commonly
understood, We shall have to 20 back
along the line for a number of years to
find Secretary with greater claim TO
its possession.
Those who do not altogether agree
with the Administration In its financial
views will have no complaint to make
or fault to find, especially If some &c.
ceptable Western man is selected as
successor to Treasurer Jordan. They
look for no reversals or notifications
Of policy, except through the action of
Congress.
The country at large will be satisfied,
because 1t knows Mr.. Fairchild to be a
man of great executive ability, unques.
toned nerve and superior business
qualifications. And the Democratic
party, whether entirely reconciled to
the appointment or not, will have the
satisfaction of knowing that the new
Secretary, II not so familiar to them in
their National councils as some others
or not so conspicuous by long public
service, is yet a Democrat of unim
peachable record, q safe counsellor and
citizen eminently worthy of the honol
with which he is now clothed.
JoHS G. SANE, one OF the best Of
American versfiers and a poet of NJ
ordinary genius, died at Albany yester
day. lie was an honorable and giftet
man, and his compositions had many
contemporary admirers In their day
He was also an entertaining lecturer
much sought after by lyccum bureau
and at college commandments. Hi
wit was as bright as Charles Lambs
and his satire as keen Ns Thaclieray' !
But the later years of his life wer
clouded by terrible domestic bereave
ments that completely overwhelme
him, and to some extent, no doubt, i'm
paired his mental faculties, lie died O
last, a recluse from the world, hut ter
Gerly cared for by son, the only SUI
Niving member Of n once dell yhtrul an
happy family.
\ LONDON cablegiam this mornin
reports the health Of Mr.. NJ amin
worsc since his arrival at Bournemoutl
which recalls the prediction made som
time since by DIR. Sewers, tha the eN
Secretary could not make the ocea
voyage and return alive IT may bC
however, as will be universally hoped
that the alarming rumors of his pres
ent conditiC n are exaggerated,
Mr.. BLAINE addressed two thousau
people at the Merchants Exchange I
ST. Lous yesterday, and, for the tim
being, at least, made himself solid wit
the Democracy of that section by
complimentary allusion to the Missi
sippi River and a glowing tribute
Thomas jefferson.
THERE is bill pending in the Penn
sylyania Legislature appropriatin
$4,000 toward celebrating the center
plal anniversary Of the adoption Of th